26 - Navigating Toxic Relationships and Rebuilding Trust

In this riveting episode, we delve into the intricacies of navigating toxic relationships and the crucial process of rebuilding trust. We examine the often overlooked necessity for empathy and understanding when dealing with toxic individuals, and the importance of open communication. The episode further explores the importance of continual effort in relationship improvement, the myth of the "perfect person", and practical steps to rebuild trust after betrayal. Insightful references and resources to further explore these topics are also provided.

#relationshipadvice, #toxicrelationships, #rebuildingtrust, #healthycommunication, #empathy, #personalgrowth, #relationshipimprovement, #relationshipexpectations, #betrayal, #relationshiptherapy, #mentalhealth, #personalboundaries, #relationshipagreements, #relationshiprules

References for Further Reading:

Aslanian, A. (2019, October 21). Betrayal Trauma in Addiction. The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/betrayal-trauma-in-addiction/

Blanchard, K., Olmstead, C., & Lawrence, M. (2013). Trust Works!: Four Keys to Building Lasting Relationships. William Morrow.

Carter, B. (2021, August 10). 4 Tips to Build Everyday Trust in Relationships. The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/4-tips-to-build-everyday-trust-in-relationships/

Cherry, K. (n.d.). Why You May Have Trust Issues and How to Overcome Them. Verywell Mind. Retrieved August 25, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/why-you-may-have-trust-issues-and-how-to-overcome-them-5215390

Field, B. (n.d.). How to Deal With Betrayal in a Relationship. Verywell Mind. Retrieved August 25, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-deal-with-betrayal-in-a-relationship-6361199

Finkel, E. J., Hui, C. M., Carswell, K. L., & Larson, G. M. (2014). The Suffocation of Marriage: Climbing Mount Maslow Without Enough Oxygen. Psychological Inquiry, 25(1), 1–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2014.863723

Fremont-Smith, K. (2020, September 8). How To Change Your Own Contempt. The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/how-to-change-your-own-contempt/

Games, G. (2021, July 6). The Deeper Meaning of Trust. The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-deeper-meaning-of-trust/

Gaspard, T. (2019, September 25). Do Trial Separations Work? The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/do-trial-separations-work/

Gaspard, T. (2023, July 11). How to Overcome Fear of Intimacy in Relationships. The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/how-to-overcome-fear-of-intimacy-in-relationships/

Gottman, J., & Silver, N. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert (Revised ed. edition). Harmony.

Halford, W. K., Petch, J., & Bate, K. (2016). Empirically based couple relationship education. In The Oxford handbook of relationship science and couple interventions. (pp. 193–209). Oxford University Press.

Jantz, G. L., & Wall, K. (2021). Rebuilding Trust after Betrayal: Hope and Help for Broken Relationships. Aspire Press.

Leuangpaseuth, B. (2020a, January 16). Reviving Trust After an Affair (part 2). The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/reviving-trust-after-an-affair/

Leuangpaseuth, B. (2020b, January 16). What to Do After an Affair (part 1). The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/what-to-do-after-an-affair/

Lusignan, K. (2019, July 29). John Gottman and Brené Brown on Running Headlong Into Heartbreak. The Gottman Institute. https://www.gottman.com/blog/john-gottman-and-brene-brown-on-running-headlong-into-heartbreak/

Murray, S. L., & Holmes, J. G. (1999). The (mental) ties that bind: Cognitive structures that predict relationship resilience. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1228–1244. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.77.6.1228

Overcoming Trust Issues: How to Rebuild Your Relationship. (2023, June 26). Therapy Central. https://therapy-central.com/2023/06/26/overcoming-trust-issues-how-to-rebuild-your-relationship/

Schofield, M. J., Mumford, N., Jurkovic, D., Jurkovic, I., & Bickerdike, A. (2012). Short and long-term effectiveness of couple counselling: A study protocol. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 735. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-735

Stanley, S. M., Rhoades, G. K., & Markman, H. J. (2006). Sliding Versus Deciding: Inertia and the Premarital Cohabitation Effect*. Family Relations, 55(4), 499–509. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00418.x

Stritof, S. (n.d.). Tips for Rebuilding Trust in Your Relationship. Verywell Mind. Retrieved August 25, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/rebuild-trust-in-your-marriage-2300999

Williamson, H. C., Hammett, J. F., Ross, J. M., Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (2018). Premarital education and later relationship help-seeking. Journal of Family Psychology, 32(2), 276–281. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000383